Start-Up Items

[AndreaLea]

We signed the build sheet and want to have the necessary items ready to take with us for pick up. Would appreciate advice and sharing your lists! Where do we find the actual start up kit that Escape has? We want to know the must haves as well as the nice to haves! Also, recommendations for what we need to be prepared to do to the trailer immediately.
Thank you in advance.

[Iowa Dave]

It would be good to have a 1/2 inch drive torque wrench to check the lug nuts after you have towed your new Escape. You can buy one at Harbor Freight that is adequate for occasional use. You can buy a single 1/2 inch drive socket to fit the lug nuts. They are either 3/4 inch or 13/16 inch. I’m not where I can check right now. There’s a recommendation for torquing frequency in your manual. I am running 95 ft lbs.
Iowa Dave

[YakRV]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

You can buy a single 1/2 inch drive socket to fit the lug nuts. They are either 3/4 inch or 13/16 inch. I’m not where I can check right now.
Iowa Dave

It’s a 1/2” drive 13/16” 6-point deep socket. For some reason it was pretty hard for us to find around here. None of the big box stores had any. Found one at a local hardware store.

[Doug2000]

When we got our 2020 19, we opted for the accessory pack. I don't recall exactly what it came with but it was a good start. But you'll need or want

paddle locks for the front storage bin if you ordered one.
water hose, white for drinking water.
water jug for filling the fresh water tank, mine has a hose adapted to it.
electrical cords, I carry 3 - 25' cords plus the cord on the trailer.
wood blocks or plastic Lego style leveling blocks for the stabilizers
wood blocks or Anderson levelers for leveling the trailer

outdoor carpet
hatchet and bow saw for firewood
camp chairs
boom and dust pan for inside

tools
multimeter, understand how it works
tire pressure gauge
duct tape and electrical tape
rope
zip ties
a big piece of cardboard in case of a smashed window (keep under mattress)
extra light duty extension cords and a string of patio lanterns

pool noodles, they have many uses

small fan, electric heater, extra cord

stuff I always forget, dish soap, cooking oil, hot sauce

Hope that helps

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by YakRV

It’s a 1/2” drive 13/16” 6-point deep socket. For some reason it was pretty hard for us to find around here. None of the big box stores had any. Found one at a local hardware store.

Thanks for posting this. I couldn’t be sure without looking. Too many nuts on my mind.
Iowa Dave

[YakRV]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Thanks for posting this. I couldn’t be sure without looking. Too many nuts on my mind.
Iowa Dave

Just following your lead, Dave. Glad to pitch in. This was actually very fresh on my mind since I had been searching for this darn thing all over the place.

[Centex]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

It would be good to have a 1/2 inch drive torque wrench to check the lug nuts after you have towed your new Escape. You can buy one at Harbor Freight that is adequate for occasional use. You can buy a single 1/2 inch drive socket to fit the lug nuts. They are either 3/4 inch or 13/16 inch. I’m not where I can check right now. There’s a recommendation for torquing frequency in your manual. I am running 95 ft lbs.
Iowa Dave

Excellent #1 advice, IMO, thanks for covering that!

My new-delivery needed lugs torqued after ~100 miles, they've been good since.

[Bobbie54]

Adapters to 50 amp and to 15 amp (to and from the 15, at least to the 50).

[Civilguy]

The eyes on the latches are so lightweight that they could easily be cut with wire cutters. I've also seen the eyes on some latches worn through due to towing with heavy locks.

So, I use a cheap, lightweight suitcase-lock to keep the honest people out. I also try to keep the more expensive and popular stuff like the lithium-battery drill out of the box. Whoever breaks in will be entitled to a collection of treasures including 2x and plywood leveling blocks, a gray-water hose, and a pretty-nice Rubbermaid bucket!

[gbaglo]

What can you do anyway?
Son-in-law lost his Lexus overnight a couple days ago. Another Lexus a few blocks away also disappeared that night.

Apparently, thieves use a transmitter with an amplifier to wake up the car and the fob and intercept the signal so the car can be unlocked and started. They have video of the car being driven away, but it's not clear enough to be useful.

It's likely in a shipping container, on the way to Asia or Africa.
Toyota vehicles are also at risk, and probably other makes as well.

[ghosthunter]

I would add to the list.

Tank chemicals
TP
A roll of Velcro (handy for making strips to keep cupboard doors shut and security g the awning to the trailer mounts and other uses.

Water filter
Pressure regulator
Small folding table for outside.
Box of latex gloves
Foam pad to kneel on.
Can of silicone lubricant.

If you buy one of those battery jump boxes from Costco or Harbor Freight, you have a air gauge ,air pump and charge station all in one unit.